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In today's society, women have far more opportunities than even a few decades ago, at least in most of North America. Many women are also postponing the raising of a family so from the perspective of financial security, they are no longer reliant on a man to give them standing in society.

A greater percentage of people are finding more acceptance of their sexual orientation and same sex couples, of both genders, are becoming increasingly more common, as is same sex marriage in many jurisdictions.

Women no longer 'need' men to fulfill the role of provider, for themselves, or even if they choose to have children. One could also state that men no longer 'need' women to define them in today's society.

The majority of people still express the need and desire of companionship and love.

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Frankly, it seems more even handed- In today's financial state, both parties seem to need to be working to make ends meet.
It's more equal, not fully and even so, single people tend to "need" a roommate to make the rent.

Emotional fulfillment doesn't appear to have changed very much. People still believe in it, want it and still make a lot of bad decisions trying to get there until they either manage to get it right, give up, screw up so badly the damage cannot be undone or settle for whatever will tolerate them.

Feminism has been convincing women they "don't need men" since the 1960's. Now women have one problem. They can't find husbands.

Successful women often make men feel demoralized and inadequate.

According to a recent article by Margaret Wente, What if Women Don't Need Guys Any More:

"Magdalena Hinojosa, (above) a striking-looking single woman, is a senior associate vice-president at the University of Texas. She's learned that her job makes men uneasy. So when they ask her what she does, she simply tells them she works ... in the admissions office.

"You have to hide who you are, at the beginning, until that person is comfortable with you," she says.

In the past fifty years, feminism has swept through society like an Oklahoma tornado leaving a trail of wreckage:

1. "Women in America now earn almost half the family income, and more than half in lower-income families. Forty per cent of wives now out earn their husbands. And the gender gap is closing fast. The median income of young, unmarried urban women in their 20s is now higher than the men's."

2. "More than half of births to American women under 30 now occur outside marriage. One mother, Amber Strader, 27, said she was in an on-and-off relationship when she got pregnant. Marrying her boyfriend, a clerk at Sears, never entered her mind. "It was like living with another kid."

3. Men have been deprived of their identity. "What happens when they aren't needed as providers any more? What happens when their sense of purpose is lost? The answer is, they become unmoored."

4. The US birthrate is down from 23 births per 1000 in 1960 to 13.8 in 2011, the lowest point in history! In 1960, 72% of all American adults were married; in 2010 just 51% were. The number dropped sharply by 5% in the most recent year, 2009-10.

Women are flourishing in this new world, but many men aren’t. Men have always defined themselves as providers — it’s the main source of their identity. What happens when they aren’t needed as providers any more? What happens when their sense of purpose is lost? The answer is, they become unmoored. They stop being adults

Maybe for the sake of this particular discussion, the OP should offer a clear definition of the terms "need" and "love". Then we can base our remarks on these definitions and we can all be understood better.

It is common that people treat certain words as if they have subjective meaning. Need and Love are two words often treated this way.If you want to use the Webster's dictionary definition that is fine and I prefer it. No need to be snarky.

C'mon Neverfly, on what world you live? Why do not try to look on the link I posted?

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You posted a page of links, not a single one. Why the accusatory tone?
If you are going to post a topic, be clear what the topic is. Do not post random ramblings and expect people to just KNOW what you are on about.

Now to answer you question, Men and women need each other for somethings and for other things they do not. Not really that complicated.

If you want to get on the emotional part of it. In the past women were conditioned to place self worth in approval from men. Women's place in society has come up and so has their sense of self worth. They no longer feel that they have to have men's approval in order to have value as a human being.

That is what it generally means when a woman says" women don't need men"

I am not aware of any society or time period in which men EVER needed women's approval for validation. So for a man to say that means nothing to me. And it shouldn't hurt your feelings if a woman does not need your approval. it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with how she values herself. unless you are just a bastard that tries to belittle her. Then she may feel the need to point out the obvious to you.

wise men know that women NEVER really needed their approval. And they treat us with more respect as a result.

What does being a minority have to do with anything. Do you think this issue affects minorities differently?

It is common that people treat certain words as if they have subjective meaning. Need and Love are two words often treated this way.If you want to use the Webster's dictionary definition that is fine and I prefer it. No need to be snarky.

You posted a page of links, not a single one. Why the accusatory tone?
If you are going to post a topic, be clear what the topic is. Do not post random ramblings and expect people to just KNOW what you are on about.

Now to answer you question, Men and women need each other for somethings and for other things they do not. Not really that complicated.

If you want to get on the emotional part of it. In the past women were conditioned to place self worth in approval from men. Women's place in society has come up and so has their sense of self worth. They no longer feel that they have to have men's approval in order to have value as a human being.

That is what it generally means when a woman says" women don't need men"

I am not aware of any society or time period in which men EVER needed women's approval for validation. So for a man to say that means nothing to me. And it shouldn't hurt your feelings if a woman does not need your approval. it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with how she values herself. unless you are just a bastard that tries to belittle her. Then she may feel the need to point out the obvious to you.

wise men know that women NEVER really needed their approval. And they treat us with more respect as a result.

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Just on the topic:
The relationship between man and woman is not based on mutual understanding?
Wise people (men and women) know that men and women need each other.

I understand what you mean. But this statement, in my opinion, has also an emotional dimension.
What do you understand if I declare that I don't need a woman?

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Then I shall attempt to answer your remark above from the emotional context.

Perhaps we have been sharing a few drinks and laughs getting to know each other at a local community event, say a Bluegrass Festival or something of the sort. We have only just met, but from your body language and behavior, I am of the impression that your orientation is heterosexual and you seem to be 'into' me. The topic touches on relationships and you remark that you have been living by yourself for the last seven years and you 'don't need a woman'.

I might wonder from that if you were perhaps lacking in libido, even though sparks seem to be happening.

Or I might get the sense that you are telling me right from the get-go that while you might care to tumble me, that you are not the sort to make commitments.

I might wonder if perhaps you were autistic to some degree and not able to engage at the emotional level although desirous of physical affection.

Perhaps you are trying to convey that you are not ruled by your hormones and that your interest in me is genuine interest in me as a whole person and not merely a circumstance of physical 'need'.

Those are just a few of the considerations that come to mind when a man remarks that he does not 'need' a woman.

Then I shall attempt to answer your remark above from the emotional context.

Perhaps we have been sharing a few drinks and laughs getting to know each other at a local community event, say a Bluegrass Festival or something of the sort. We have only just met, but from your body language and behavior, I am of the impression that your orientation is heterosexual and you seem to be 'into' me. The topic touches on relationships and you remark that you have been living by yourself for the last seven years and you 'don't need a woman'.

I might wonder from that if you were perhaps lacking in libido, even though sparks seem to be happening.

Or I might get the sense that you are telling me right from the get-go that while you might care to tumble me, that you are not the sort to make commitments.

I might wonder if perhaps you were autistic to some degree and not able to engage at the emotional level although desirous of physical affection.

Perhaps you are trying to convey that you are not ruled by your hormones and that your interest in me is genuine interest in me as a whole person and not merely a circumstance of physical 'need'.

Those are just a few of the considerations that come to mind when a man remarks that he does not 'need' a woman.

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Or he may be deluding himself.

Or he may be trying to convince the lady that he is not thinking about 'only one thing'

or he may be trying to remind himself not to get attached to the idea of a relationship with the lady because the last relationship went so badly.

@emil
relationships are based on mutual understanding, but there is no rule that the relationship is a requirement. There are people who remain celibate their entire lives.

also there are many types of relationships. Are you specifically referring to the romantic relationship? a marital relationship?

Then I shall attempt to answer your remark above from the emotional context.

Perhaps we have been sharing a few drinks and laughs getting to know each other at a local community event, say a Bluegrass Festival or something of the sort. We have only just met, but from your body language and behavior, I am of the impression that your orientation is heterosexual and you seem to be 'into' me.

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If in this stage you telling me you do not need a man (for whatever reason) our possible relationship as man and woman is closed.
Yes, we can remain friends.

It depends on the context of the situation. Who is she saying it to? What tone is she saying it in. It could be any number of reasons, just as it could be for if the man says he doesn't need a woman.

Has a woman said this to you? If so, maybe if you fill us in on the events that led up to her saying it then maybe we can tell you why she may have said it with more clarity.

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Let's see my point of view because it is easier.
I'm talking about the man woman relationship where is sexual attraction also and not about friendship.

If a woman tells me "I do not need a man", then any serious relationship is excluded.
I am convinced that any serious relationship between man and woman begins when both recognize that they need each other.

But if I just want an adventure, this statement is convenient because it absolve me of any responsibility.
If you do not need me then you can not have pretensions from me.

(What would be a society where " children and men first", in an emergency?)

Let's see my point of view because it is easier.
I'm talking about the man woman relationship where is sexual attraction also and not about friendship.

If a woman tells me "I do not need a man", then any serious relationship is excluded.
I am convinced that any serious relationship between man and woman begins when both recognize that they need each other.

But if I just want an adventure, this statement is convenient because it absolve me of any responsibility.
If you do not need me then you can not have pretensions from me.

(What would be a society where " children and men first", in an emergency?)

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Are you referring to an emotional need or to a financial need for a provider?